Air heater



May 5, 1931. B. B. www/1M 1,804,191

AIR HEATER Filed oct. 19; 192? 2 sheets-sheet 1 e @37,- im INVENToR BY KWWL/ ATTORNEYQ` B. B. WHITTAM May 5, 1931.

AIR HEATER Filed 001'.. 19.

1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r y W MATTORNEY lIl() Patented May 5, 1.931

UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN WHITTAM, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BABCOCX WILCOX COMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, A CQRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY Ain HEATER Application filed October 19, 1927. Serial No. 227,080.l

This invention relates to a parallel flow tubular air heater in which the tubes through which the hot gases pass, are straight from end to end, the tube ends entering special shaped inclined segmental tube plates; one end of each tube being expanded or otherwisel lixed into one of the segmental tube plates, and free to expand through the other, thus obtaining the advantages of air heaters that have curved tube ends. The invention will be understood from the description in coin` nection with the accompanying drawings-@1n which i' Fig. l is a vertical section through a lustrative embodiment of the invention; 'y

Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale tagn along the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a plan view along'the line of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section along the line 4 4 of Fig. 5 showing a modification;

Fig. 5 is a plan view along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section along the line 6-6 showing another modification; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view along theline 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the drawin s reference character 1 indicates a group o straight parallel tubes that are anchored, expanded or otherwise fixed into one of the end tube plates or members 2, and are free to expand through the other member 2. Each one of the segmental end tube plates 2 is somewhat troughshaped and formed by a bottom having inclined sides 3 and parallel sides 4 along the otherside (Fig. 2). The upper edges of the outer end vanges 6, of the segmental tube plates, are made sloping; and parallel flanges 4 contact with adjacent parallel ilanges 5; all so that these anges may be attached to each other in any convenient manner ;as for example, by welding or bolting the same together. In this way, the successive segmental tube plates are stepped so that the ends of the air heater are at an angle to the tube 1 and the tubes of each row of tubes may all be in the same plane. Material such as moldable tire clay 9, for example, may be placed in the spaces around the upper tube ends of the tubes 1, to prevent soot from collecting therein. An openin 10 is left at the upper edge of the front wa l l1 of the air heater for admission of air and an opening 12 is left at the lower edge of the opposite wall 13 for the exit of the air that has been heated;

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tube plates 2a comprise horizontal portions 14 and vertical portions 15, with the tubes 1a extending through the horizontal portions and functioning with the end tube vplates the same as described for Figs. l to 3, "'inclusive. The ends of the tubes la are beveled, as Shown at 16, arallel to the side flanges 8 to which the tu e plates are bolted and the moldable re clay 9 is placed in spaces between the ends of the'tubes, so that a smooth continuous surface is made at the upper end of the heater;

In the modification shown in Figs. '6 and 7 the segmental tube plates 2b extend longitudinally of the heater or parallel to the channels 8 instead of across the same, as in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. Flanges 17 are provided along the edges of the segmental tube plates 2b. The intermediate flanges 17 are attached to each other in any convenient manner, as for example, by welding or boltin The outer flanges 17 a being bolted to the c annels 8 to retain the parts in assembled relation.

It will be clear that with this invention: Straight tubes of any one length can be used and easily cleaned; and will not clog up with soot A change in the area of the heating surface maybe made at any time without the necessity for discarding any appreciable aniount of manufactured material of the air heater, as a whole: The parts for this air heiter can be carried as a manufactured product, allowing quantity stock production of its parts: The segmental end tube plates will actgas a single unit when assembled, offering considerable stiffness as a beam and permitting material of light section to be used, through which tube or bolt holes may be punched instead of drilled A minimum spacing of tubes may be obtained to give any desirable relation of gas to air flow area: The individual segmental tube plates can be easily replaced, when corroded, or for any other reason: The air heater may be reversed end for end, either in Whole or in part, in case of corrosion at the gas inlet end: The individual segments of the end tube plates can be made economically of cast material to give a maximum protection against corrosion.

Changes and modifications can be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. In an air heater, straight parallel tubes and a tube plate to which one end of said tubes are connected, said tube plate having flanges thereon at an acute angle to said tubes.

2. In an air heater, straight parallel tubes and a tube plate to which one end of said tubes are connected, said tube plate having flanges thereon, said flanges being connected to each other and extending at an angle to said tubes.

3. In an air heater, straight parallel tubes and tube plates to which one' end of said tubes are connected, said tube plates comprising stepped metal sections having parallel sides serving as flanges.

4. In an air'lieater, straight parallel tubes and tube pl ate'is'to which one end of said tubes are connected, said tube plates comprising stepped metal sections having parallel sides serving as flanges, said flanges being connected to each other.

5. In an air heater, straight parallel tubes and tube plates to which one end of said tubes are connected, said tube plates comprising stepped niet-al sections having parallel sides serving as flanges, said flanges being connected to each other, and supports for said metal sections at an angle to said tubes.

6. In an air heater, straight parallel tubes and tube plates to which one end of said tubes are connected, said tube plates comprising stepped metal sections, and means whereby air is caused to enter and leave said heater at an acute angle to said tubes and to pass along the outside of said tubes, substantially parallel to the saine intermediate the inlet and outlet.

7. An air heater having tubes and tube plates, said plates being divided into sep` arate parallel sections having portions at right angles to said tubes and other portions parallel thereto.

8. In an air heater, straight parallel tubes and tube plates to which one end of said tubes are connected, said tube plates comprising stepped plate sections, said sections each hav-` ases,

.stepped plate sections, said sections each having parallel Walls connected to a V-shaped portion, the sides of said V-shaped portion being at a right an le to each other.

BENJA IN B. WHITTAM. 

